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IR Film Review: WICKED - FOR GOOD [Universal]
The essence of "Wicked" is the beauty and darkness of what we see behind the scenes of "The Wizard Of Oz". While the first "Wicked" was more about bright colors and drawing the younger audience in, "Wicked: For Good" is the more dynamic of the two. This is simply becomes the fact that despite anything, this is a story of platonic love between two women but how heartbreak can and does happen.
IR Film Review: NOBODY 2 [Universal]
The angle of "Nobody" was the idea of a man brought back out of his shell while trying to be something that he is not. The first movie was a character fighting against himself. "Nobody 2" is about being alright with who you are. Bob Odenkirk gets this guy and realizes the whole point is to place him in different genres.
IR Film Review: JURASSIC PARK - REBIRTH [Universal]
The approach to rebooting a successful franchise comes down to perspective but also it is about keeping it from going off the rails. The saving grace of "Jurassic Park: Rebirth" is the balance between writer David Koepp (who wrote the screenplay for the first "Jurassic Park" as well as "The Lost World") and director Gareth Edwards who knows a thing or two about restoring franchises.
IR Film Review: WOLF MAN [Universal]
The essence of doing something like "Wolf Man" the Blumhouse route comes down to perspective. Director Leigh Whannell, known originally for his work with the "Saw" franchise, has been smart in building his resume making these lean and mean films for producer Jason Blum when he could have naturally probably gone and tried bigger fare. "Wolf Man," like certain aspects of Ti West, benefits from this approach.
IR Film Review: TWISTERS [Universal]
The aspect of creating a néw perspective on “Twister” 30 years after the original is a different conundrum. Weather has changed. Technology has charged. But people really haven’t. While this version in “Twisters” might be more woke per se, it doesn’t quite have the jolt of fun the original had. Whether this has to do with the actors involved or the differing directors is hard to say.
IR Film Review: MIGRATION [Illumination/Universal]
"Migration" has a sense of itself without getting too lost in its own trevails. This might be the writing of Mike White which is an interesting choice but definitely reflects in every character having both their own argument and point of view without being grating.
IR Film Review: THE EXORCIST - BELIEVER [Universal]
The aspect of innocence lost is sometimes based in the context of ignorance. The original "Exorcist" painted in the lines of the proponent of purity versus the conservative nature possibly of the church. With "The Exorcist: Believer", the filmmakers try to take a similar approach but with not enough narrative backbone and delivery to create the stakes.
IR Film Review: RUBY GILLMAN - TEENAGE KRAKEN [Dreamworks/Universal]
The texture of a Dreamworks animation film has usually reflected in its reflexity to the modern climate. While "Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken" does this in a certain way, it more caters to a smaller demographic. The story of a young girl finding her identity before growing into her own skin has been done before (and definitely at times) with greater gusto.
IR Film Review: THE 355 [Universal]
The texture of a female led action film should not be considered an unbalanced affair and "The 355" proves that. From the first time this journalist heard a couple years ago around Cannes that Jessica Chastain was trying to bring kick ass women from all over the globe for a spy thriller, it was an instant sell.